Title: Jess' Holiday

Rating: T for language and adult situations

Spoilers: None

Disclaimer: I don't own Primeval or the characters. This is for fun.

Description: Jess is off on a two week holiday from the ARC. Becker wreaks havoc at the ARC, and Jess explores the possibility of a new relationship. What will happen when she returns?

Author's Note: I was feeling better, the allergy and sinus medicine finally working when I wrote this. I was feeling good. It's really fluffy, especially the end. It's valentine-worthy romantic. You've been warned. This is in three parts.

Update: Edited for spelling and grammar.

Part One

"I am off for two whole weeks on a warm Caribbean cruise," said Jess.

"I hate you," said Abby. "I'm so jealous."

"Aw, don't be," said Jess, hugging her neck. "You and Connor had a nice holiday."

"Yeah, two weeks in surrey, hurray."

Jess was so excited. Her bags were packed, and as soon as she was done here, a taxi would whisk her off for her fabulous holiday. No more worries about cretaceous creatures or future predators, or computer glitches. Two whole weeks without thinking about the ARC. Frankly, she wouldn't miss a thing.

Then Becker walked in. OK, so, maybe she'd miss the ARC a little.

"So, you off to your ocean paradise?"

She smiled brightly at him. "Yes, I am, and you will have to muddle along without me."

Becker smirked. "We'll find a way."

She smiled, then stared at him. She wished her eyes were a camera so she could freeze this image and pull it out whenever she needed it. Instead, she'd just have to remember that black, lovely hair, and those twinkling, probing eyes, that damn smirk of his that made her knees turn to sushi, and of course those pink, soft lips.

She wanted to take all of him: the rippling biceps, the firm abs, the legs with life-saving speed, the arms that too seldom held her, and stuff him in her purse.

"I hope the ARC is still standing when I get back," she said, "and you are too. Don't do anything too stupid."

Becker chuckled. "I think you're confused, Jess. You meant to use the word heroic."

"Oh, right," she said laughing. Then she looked up at him. She was so stuck on this guy. "Be careful. Promise me?"

Becker took a step closer and held her hand. Jess felt goose bumps. "I'll be careful," he said. "Promise. You have a good time and relax."

"Right," she said. "Shouldn't be a problem: tropical weather, floating hotel and shopping mall," Becker laughed, "and oh, yes, eligible men trapped with me. Fantastic!"

Becker frowned for a millisecond. She swore he did. He couldn't be jealous, could he?

"Sounds great," he said.

They smiled at each other and stood silently for a moment.

"Okay, then. Bye," said Jess.

"Bye," he said. Then he started to walk away, but stopped, walked back quickly, and kissed her cheek.

She looked startled, but then smiled. He smiled back, and stepped away.

Jess stood as if in shock, then shook herself out of it. "Bye, everyone."

Lester came out of his office. "Goodbye Miss Parker. Enjoy your holiday, also known as conning management into giving workers not only time to party and frolic when they should be working, but paid time to party and frolic."

Jess laughed, shaking her head and, mumbling, "Lester."

"Bye Jess," said Abby, hugging her. "Have a fab time."

"Behave yourself," said Matt.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," said Connor.

"I've never understood that Connor," said Jess.

"We shall miss you," said Emily.

She moved toward the lift, and glanced back at Becker. She smiled and he smiled and nodded. She entered the lift and was gone for 14 days.

On the ship

Jess strolled around her home for the next 14 days. It was a large ship called the Caribbean Duchess. After finding her cabin, she wanted to be sure she was prepared. So she looked at the maps and marked the quickest route in case of emergency. When a crisis erupted, seconds could make the difference. She walked what she had determined was the quickest and most direct route.

There. She was right in front of it. Good, now that she was prepared, she could begin to relax. She marked it on her map as the correct, quick route.

She could now get to the shops in just seconds. Oh, she also noted her designated life-boat station and the fire alarms.

As she stood, admiring the first shop's window, she noticed a ship's menu posted nearby. Prawns were one of the featured items. Jess sighed, and thought, of course, of Becker's love of prawns.

It would be a long 14 days.

At the ARC

"Why the hell can't anyone follow a simple order?" Becker screamed at his men. "Carly, you call this proper containment and care of firearms? Do you?"

Sergeant Carlson, weapons expert, opened and closed his mouth like a fish dying on the bottom of a boat.

"Vale, wipe that smirk off your face and pay attention!"

Lieutenant Vale was 3rd in command, and a young, flirtatious, easy-going officer. Immediately, he killed all traces of any sort of happiness from his body.

"Flowers, as the 2nd in command, any shortcomings in the men reflect shortcomings in you. I expect you to snap them all into shape!"

Becker glared at them, then he stomped out.

"When's Miss Parker coming back?" asked Carlson, in a barely audible voice.

"Not soon enough," said Flowers.

On the cruise ship the Caribbean Duchess

Jess lay stretched out on a deckchair, tanning herself. Her hair was piled on her head, so that her neck and shoulders were exposed to the sun. She was dressed to tan: a sapphire blue bikini the only thing breaking up the view of her pale skin. Finally she was beginning to relax, her long legs and arms stretching limply.

Unfortunately, she drew a lot of attention. More than she wanted.

She frowned as another man blocked her sun. Sure, complaining that too many single, semi-nude men wanted her attention might sound snobbish, but honestly, she wasn't in the mood to socialize. She just wanted to tan.

"Hey, baby," said an American accent. Jess didn't bother to open her eyes beneath the sunglasses. She had no idea what he looked like. "How about I rub some suntan lotion over those gorgeous limbs? Don't want you to burn."

"No, thank you. I already took care of that. Not to be rude, but you're blocking the sun, and I simply don't feel like conversation now. Thank you."

"Excuse me, your highness," sneered the man, definitely offended.

She didn't care. She just wanted to relax. That's the point of a holiday.

Not long after, she heard, "Hello sweetness. How 'bout some company?"

"No, thank you. Please leave me to my rest," she said flatly.

The voice grumbled but disappeared. There was another voice soon after. And another, and another. Jess was getting a lot of unwanted visitors, all of them leaving unsatisfied.

'Honestly,' thought Jess, 'why can't men just let a woman be by herself? Women can honestly live for a few minutes without the company of a man. Men just don't get it. Well, some men. Becker gets it.'

Becker. She smiled at the thought of him. How polite he was, how he didn't come on to her every few minutes, how he listened to her ramble, never rudely stopping her. Becker was a gentleman. Was he the only gentleman in this world?

'The men on this boat could take some lessons from him', she thought. 'I wish he was here. No, I don't. I'm not thinking about him, not at all. I can survive a few days without seeing that smirk, or hearing that sexy voice, or imagining those arms around me.'

She sighed. Not thinking about him wasn't working.

Back in the ARC

Becker stood in line at the canteen. The server was looking at him weird.

"Something wrong, Shelly?" he asked.

"No, of course not, it's just...you never choose chocolate pudding pie. Never. I remember once I offered it to you, and you said you couldn't stand it."

"I guess I changed my mind," he said. "I have a craving for it today."

He heard a few giggles and laughs from up the line, and Bernie came swiftly down to Becker.

"Sorry Captain, the girls are a little silly today, let me ring up your order for you," said Chef Bernie Rice, today playing cashier. "There you are sir."

"Thanks, Bernie," said Becker.

As he walked off, Bernie made sure Becker did not hear the servers talking about the true subject of his craving: a certain petite brunette.

On the cruise ship:

Jess strolled down the promenade of the ship. It was windy, and her hair was tied with a scarf, when the wind blew it off. She ran to get it; it cost 30 pounds, after all, and found it in the hands of one of the ship's crew.

He was attractive, not as attractive as Becker though. He cut a dashing form in his ship's uniform with the long shorts. He was tall, not as tall as Becker. He had dark hair, a little lighter and longer than Becker's and his eyes were lovely blue.

He handed her the scarf, and tipped his hat and she noticed the firm, nicely developed bicep, almost as big and beautiful as Becker's.

"Thank you so much," she said.

"No problem, Miss," he replied. "It's a bit windy for something so delicate."

"You're British!" she exclaimed, happily.

"Yes. It's always a pleasure to meet another citizen of the crown, especially when she's so pretty."

Jess blushed. "Thank you. I dabble a bit in dialects. I hear so many in my job. May I ask, are you from London?"

"That's very good! I was raised just outside in Maidenhead."

"No kidding," she said. "I lived there as a child. What a coincidence."

The two struck of a quick friendship. His name was Wallace. He was a junior officer on the bridge, 24 years old and single. She liked him instantly.

"Miss Parker, uh, Jess. Are you doing anything this evening? I was thinking dinner and dancing. I'll even pick you up at your cabin and give you a proper escort. What do you say?"

Jess beamed. "Of course. I'd love to, but I can only stay for dinner, and if you don't mind, might I meet you at the dining room? I have plans you see."

"Sure," he said, and took her hand and kissed it.

She stood in disbelief. A kind, handsome man had asked her out, and she made some excuse to only go to dinner, and not be picked up at her cabin. What was she thinking? She could just see Becker now, teasing and laughing at her and raising his eyebrow. Not that she'd tell him.

Wait, why was she thinking of Becker after a gorgeous, available man had just asked her out?

At the ARC

"What a bunch of whiny babies!" screamed Becker. "You'd think you'd never been on a 30 mile run before! This is the ARC, not a day camp for children. We're supposed to be fit! Fine, take a ten minute break. Then I want you all assembled for hand to hand combat."

The soldiers lay in the locker room, looking like they'd just battled several incursions.

"I'd groan, but I'm too tired. Flowers, can't you rule him mentally unstable?" asked Private Thompson.

"It's only a few more days," said Flowers, gasping.

"Maybe...we... can…" Carlson tried to say, but was having a hard time just breathing.

"Carly, man, are you alright?" asked Vale, reaching over and undoing the older man's collar.

Carlson nodded. "...get word to Miss Parker," he said, finishing his train of thought quickly before gasping for air.

"We'll be all right," said Flowers.

"Man, he's gonna kill us," said Thompson.

"Tommy!" cried Vale. "Pull yourself together."

"Let's just all stay calm," said Flowers. He pulled out a mobile and started dialing.

"Who are you calling?" asked Vale.

"My insurance agent," whispered Flowers. "I just had a baby and I want her protected in the future, in case, you know…"

Vale rolled his eyes. "Anyone know the Lord's Prayer? How about that thing where you confess your sins? I have a lot to confess, mainly concerning women."

On the ship

Jess stood in the dining room aboard ship. She wore an elegant gown in deep burgundy. The bodice had a V-cut neck, ending just above the chest. Pleats gathered at the end of the V accented by a large silver pin, resembling the sun. The folds of the pleats ran down to the end of the dress, which in the front was at the knee. The dress then tapered around, the length lowering until it was floor length in back. She wore silver high heels and soft curls around her neck.

As she entered, she couldn't help notice that several men looked her way, and she blushed. As she waited for Wallace, she wondered how Becker would like the gown.

Wallace appeared, wearing a black long-legged dress uniform. He looked handsome, almost as handsome as...No. She needed to stop comparing every man to him. He wasn't here. He might never be...with her. Wallace was here, and clearly interested.

She decided she was going to give Wallace a chance.

End of Part One